MG Book Review: Who Wins? by Clay Swartz

If you are anything like me, you ponder such questions as “Who would make the best gourmet meal – Nikola Tesla or Isaac Newton?” or “Who would be the better zookeeper – Joan of Arc or Thomas Jefferson?”

Okay, I admit I never had those thoughts going through my head, but lucky for us, Clay Swartz did. I recently received a copy of WHO WINS? (Workman Publishing) and have had great fun debating with my nine-year-old if Mother Teresa or Mohandas Gandhi would win the Indy 500.

Swartz breaks down one hundred historical figures by their rankings in seven attributes: wealth, fitness, wisdom, bravery, artistry, leadership and intelligence. The rankings reminded me of games such as Dungeons and Dragons, but with Abraham Lincoln and William Wallace. Learning about these important people throughout history in this whimsical way is a creative way to engage children and show them that different people made huge impacts on the world with their different gifts (sometimes intelligence can matter more than bravery in certain situations).

Even if you don’t have children, this is a great book to leave out on the coffee table to spark conversation during parties. Trust me, this has been good fun!

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